“Uncle Ba, isn’t it strange that the great Wang Family Village doesn’t have experts guarding their village?”
“Yes, I was thinking the same. I even thought it would take some effort to leave, but we escaped so easily.”
The two men galloped home, some distance away from the Wang Family Village already.
Ye Ba and Ye Tian were hurrying home with news of the secret alliance. They needed to inform the village chief and elders so they could prepare.
And so, as early as they could, the two snuck away from the Wang village.
The powerful Wang Family usually did protect their village walls, but for whatever reason, the experts of the village had been acting very strangely the entire day. Few experts could be spotted on the streets of the village, and Ye Tian and Ye Ba easily escaped without trouble.
“En, it’s good for us. We saved some time.” Ye Tian nodded, though some worry still remained in his heart.
Had they found out about his murder?
Ye Tian thought for a moment before shaking his head. They were in the forest at the time and there was no sign of anybody for many miles around them—how could they suspect him?
“Ye Tian, what are you thinking?” Ye Ba asked, interrupting Ye Tian’s train of thought.
“Oh, it’s nothing. We should speed up and hurry home,” Ye Tian hurriedly replied, shaking off the errant speculation.
“En, yes. The Lin Family actually dared to form an alliance with the Wang Family, hmph!” Ye Ba replied, snorting coldly as the two experts hurried down the mountain road.
As the two Ye Family powerhouses were heading home, the top experts of the Wang Family were gathered in a courtyard.
Wang Xu, Wang Tian, Wang Hong, Wang Hu and the other elites of the Wang Family Village were all there, none of them guarding the walls.
Wang Xu and the others were surrounding a half corpse, examining the body. The trousers were shredded and the legs mutilated, but they could still confirm the man’s identity.
“It’s Lin Fei. I recognize this clothing and these shoes are the ones we gifted him,” Wang Hu said, his face heavy.
“Yes, I bought these shoes in Blood Jade City. We only had a couple pairs and no one else is missing,” Wang Xu confirmed in his deep voice.
They were now certain that the corpse before them was Lin Fei.
“Village Chief, can you tell how he died?” one of the elders respectfully asked.
Everyone else turned to look at Wang Xu. At the beginning of the meeting, everyone was informed of the alliance between the Wang Family and Lin Family, so they all knew just how damaging this death was to the Wang Family’s plans.
Wang Xu thought for a moment, examining the half corpse again. Finally, he spoke: “The bites are all from normal beasts, but none of them could’ve killed a Level Nine Martial Artist. Lin Fei died before being eaten.”
“Yes, Village Chief’s explanation is reasonable. I also think that was the case. But we only have the bite marks to go by and we have no hints from the rest of the lower body. We cannot figure out his death with only this much!” Wang Tian added as he nodded in agreement.
Wang Xu silently nodded.
Wang Hu’s eyes were filled with confusion. “Lin Fei was strong—only the Captain or the Village Chief could’ve killed him without rousing attention. Why was he in the mountainous forest in the first place? What was he doing there?”
“I could’ve also killed him without a sign!” Wang Hong added, snorting.
Wang Hu didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at the interruption, but he could only close his mouth and listen.
“You’re right!” Wang Xu cut in, turning to Wang Hu, a fine light shining in his eyes. “If I’m correct, Lin Fei was still wary of our village and wanted to find a quiet place in the mountains to consume his fruit, but he encountered a powerful beast or powerful expert who killed him for his treasure.”
“Idiot. Courting death!” Wang Tian sneered, clearly agreeing with the hypothesis.
“But in the end, he died in our village. The people of the Lin Family will not accept our explanation,” Wang Hu said, frowning.
“Yes, so we must change our plans. Wang Hong!” Wang Xu said, nodding.
“Village Chief!” Wang Hong called back respectfully. In the entire village, she listened only to Wang Xu not simply because of his power, but also because of his saving grace so many years ago.
“Wang Hong, go kill Ye Ba and the child,” Wang Xu ordered, his voice emotionless.
“En?”
Wang Hong stirred with surprise.
Everyone else also turned with surprise towards Wang Xu. If they killed Ye Ba and Ye TIan, wouldn’t they be offending two powerful villages at the same time? Even if the Wang Family Village could defeat them, they would still suffer a great loss and their ambitions of unity would be destroyed.
“Wang Hu, bring some people and head over to the Lin Family Village. Tell them that Ye Feng secretly followed their party to the birthday feast, and when he discovered the secret alliance, he killed Lin Fei,” Wang Xu continued, paying no mind to the surprised expressions around him.
Wang Tian nodded with respect. “Village Chief is wise. We might not be able to convince the Lin Family Village beyond a shadow of a doubt, but their suspicion towards the Ye Family will stop them from joining hands to fight against us.”
“When the time comes, we will destroy the Ye Family Village first. On their own, the Lin Family Village is no threat,” Wang Xu added, his eyes cold.
The other Wang Family experts all turned admiring eyes towards their chief, thinking the plan was truly impressive.
Wang Hong and Wang Hu thought the same and they immediately left to their tasks.
But Wang Hu soon returned, anxious.
“Not good, Village Chief, Ye Ba and the child are gone.”
Everyone’s expressions changed.
“He fled already? But he isn’t a match for Lin Fei; he couldn’t have killed him,” Wang Tian said with surprise.
“Could Village Chief have guessed correctly? Perhaps Ye Feng really did follow them and assassinate Lin Fei,” Wang Hu suggested.
Wang Xu was dazed for a moment; his story was a complete fabrication that even he didn’t believe.
But why else would Ye Ba have fled already?
Wang Xu thought for a moment before asking, “Where’s Wang Hong?”
“She took the Black Blood Horse to chase them. The Black Blood Horse is ten times faster than ordinary horses; Ye Ba won’t be able to escape,” Wang Hu hurriedly replied.
Wang Xu had purchased these Black Blood Horses from Blood Jade City, and the village only had four of these horses, one given to each of the four peak experts.
The Black Blood Horse was considered the king of horses.
Wang Xu smiled confidently, turning to Wang Tian. “Go as well. Take your Black Blood Horse too.”
Wang Tian paused for a moment before saying, “Village Chief, do you really think it was Ye Feng?”
“It’s not impossible!” Wang Xu replied. He was a prudent man and never accepted mistakes. Although Ye Feng’s appearance was unlikely, he would still be more at ease if Wang Tian went to join Wang Hong in pursuit.
“En. I’ll go immediately!” Wang Tian nodded and turned to leave.
Wang Hu soon left as well, preparing for his journey to the Lin Family Village. As he left the gates, he brought Lin Wudi with him, the poor child distraught and sobbing.
…
Ye Ba and Ye Tian were still on their way back to the Ye Family Village.
They had no idea the Wang Family experts were hunting them and Ye TIan had no clue that his randomly-dug shallow grave would bring so much trouble to him.
He buried the body but the smell of blood had attracted beasts, then the beasts had fought over the body. Finally, someone had passed by and discovered Lin Fei’s corpse.
The small probability of discovery had occurred.
In the end, Ye Tian’s significant gains in strength had also propelled his confidence to high heights. If his cautiousness had remained, Lin Fei’s corpse never would’ve been discovered.
“Da! Da! Da!”
Suddenly, hoofbeats filled the air behind them and Ye Tian’s sensitive spiritual sense could even detect a killing intent approaching.
Ye Ba turned, his expression transforming. “Evil Eyed Venom, Wang Hong!”
Not too far behind them, an ugly woman in red clothes was chasing them on a black horse, catching up to them.
Wang Hong? Level Nine. Martial Artist Vice-Captain, Ye Tian thought, chancing a look back and almost vomiting—the woman was truly too ugly.
“Wang Hong, what are you doing?” Ye Ba shouted, his expression ugly. For Wang Hong to be chasing them, the situation didn’t look good.
“To kill you both! Why else?” Wang Hong smiled, her ugly face twisted into a ferocious sneer.
Ye Ba cursed quietly, turning hurriedly to Ye Tian. “Ye Tian, she’s riding a Black Blood Horse. We can’t get away—you escape first and I’ll stall her.”
Ye Ba was already preparing to sacrifice himself. The only thing that mattered was Ye Tian, the hope of the Ye Family Village.
“What? Uncle Ba, you still don’t believe in my strength?” Ye Tian replied, amazed by Ye Ba’s words. He could slaughter a Peak Stage Level Nine Purple Cloud Cheetah, and that was before he had broken through to Level Nine Martial Artist. Only Wang Xu remained a threat.
“I trust you, but Wang Tian and the others might be following. We’re still too close to the Wang Family Village. We can’t waste time here,” Ye Ba replied, coolly planning his own death.
“Then I’ll just have to kill her quickly!” Ye Tian replied, wasting no more words as he turned Little White around and leaped towards Wang Hong.
“Ye Tian!” Ye Ba cried anxiously.